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Friday, 30 December 2011

Well I was one lucky girl this year, receiving 2 pairs of wonderfully warm and cosy boots, some gloves (which always come in handy, boom boom), a rather brilliant hat and scarf hand made by a friend of Mrs BC, which isn't my usual style at all, but there's just something about it that I love. A joint pressie for Cubbie Towers came in the form of a DVD recorder, but we've now discovered that we have to watch the same channel as we're recording, which rather negates the whole point of finally having a DVD recorder. I'm wondering if it's because it also contains all the Freeview gizmos which we previously had to use the set top box for, and if there is a way of hooking up the old set top box as well as the DVD recorder, so that two different channels can be received at the same time. Mrs BC has gone all technical, with a DAB radio and wait for it....one of those MP3 player thingies! Somehow, Santa managed to fit a hammer drill down the chimney, along with a helmet cam - you just wait for some new 'Cubbie / Terry Tours Scotland' videos. Two other pressies that will aid in the filming process are a natty new neck tube that turns into a hat, and, yes, wait for it, an upside down map. I mean, please? An upside down map? I'm a girl, don't people know girls can read maps the right way up! Tis a bit funny though, finding the south coast of England where the north coast of Scotland should be, and all the place names the right way up. So, what did you get?Go on, click on the map pic and see for yourself, weird!!!

Sunday, 25 December 2011

Did a little surgery on young Dennis the Dorset sheep today. One of his horns was dangerously close to his eye, and after a suspected bit of fisticuffs (or whatever the sheep equiv is) with Solly the Soay, the horn ended up poking poor Dennis in the eye. So it was out with the hacksaw blade and after a very painful few minutes for the lad, with the horn being pushed and poked and shoved into his eye even more, Dr GBC soon sorted it out. And no blood. And hope you all had a great Crimbo day.

Wednesday, 21 December 2011

Wishing all you bloggers a Very Merry Christmas and a stunningly wonderful New Year, may it be full of sunny fun filled motorcycle riding days and adventures and loads of new and interesting motorcycle magazines to read. Well, actually, hey, you only need one new motorcycle mag really, doncha? And I bet I know which one you'll all be asking Santa for....The Cub Mag!!!

If you pop back over the hols, you might find something of interest; maybe some shed building, or shed clearing out to facilitate a little bit of bike building, or maybe fitting a new kitchen door, shovelling snow, painting the kitchen, oh, who knows, there'll be festive times a plenty at Cubbie Towers!

Wednesday, 7 December 2011

After a couple of hours on Sunday, the Digger Man ran out of diesel and went home. Personally, I think it was more likely that he wanted to go and thaw out, cos it was a bit chilly and it hardly stopped snowing all the time he was working. As soon as he'd gone, that's when it did stop. Monday morning was fun; a guy came to buy some of the lambs, so they had to be caught and penned up in the hurdles, which we first had to drag across the fields of snow. We got the girl lambs caught first, with the aid of some feed in their trough, which we moved into the hurdled off area. That was easy enough but keeping the little critters in, that was another story! Every time a lump of snow fell from a tree at the end of the field, they all took flight and barged the weak point in the hurdles, almost succeeding in breaking free on one attempt. While I kept an eye on them, Mrs BC went and caught the boy lambs up in another field, using the same sneaky technique. By this time, the Digger Man had arrived, and work was under way, and then Tony the Shearer, whom we shall now refer to as Tony the Lamb Buyer, turned up an hour or so late, much to his usual form! With the sheep all wormed, injected and treated for things they haven't got but might get when they leave the sanctury of the farm for pastures new, they were loaded into his trailer and the deal was done. Tony set off down the slippery snow covered icy hill, and we went to see what the Digger Man had managed to do in his next two hours. Oh. My. Goodness. That's a mighty large hole in the garden. And that's an even mightier pile of spoil we've now got to re-home. Did I mention that the plan with this shed is to have an inspection pit in it? Always wanted one, and never had the chance to be able to 'make' one before. Seeing as it was partly the Man from Muckle Flugga's idea to get the mini digger in, it's also down to him to beg / borrow / steal (no, don't really mean 'steal', not as in 'break the law') or acquire some sort of machine to shift the mountain of spoil, cos none of us are relishing the thought of moving it with a wheel barrow!Just a wee scoop to see if we'd hit the soak away from the gutters round the house. No, is the answer, nor did we find any oil or gold or anything interesting.

Nearly deep enough, but needs to be a little longer and wider......

"What, about this big for the pit?"Er, yeah, ok then, that's probably big enough now! Thought we'd better cover it up before the cats, dogs and small sheep fell into it.

Thats it, dig a huge hole and then clear off!

Well, that's the first stage done and dusted with snow. Next up (after moving the mountain out of the way) we need to get some shuttering up and investigate the best option for the base. Do we mix it ourselves? It's not much bigger than the previous Cubbie Shed base which Mrs BC and I mixed up and laid a few years back, or do we try and get a ready mix company with a small enough lorry to deliver the gloop straight in? At this time of year, it's gonna be tricky getting lorries and big loads up the hill, down the drive and back up the drive again.

I didn't see any point in starting a new post about the same subject, so here are a few pics from the digger work today - woke up to a blanket of white stuff everywhere, but the digger man still managed to get his transit van and trailer up the steep hill to Cubbie Towers. He managed a couple of hours work in almost constant snow, then ran out of diesel! So he nipped off home and will be back tomorrow to finish the job. If only I hadn't given my spare can to the hay delivery chappie on Friday.

The calm before the digger.................................First to go was the Woolly WillowWhich was so huge it had to be chopped in half for re-planting. Followed by two birch trees and a conifer.Nice, dark top soil, handy for the garden............then down to the very stoney, sandy stuff. Would have taken more than a couple of hours to get to this stage with a shovel and pick.And finally, some frozen woolly faces.

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Could you all do me a small favour....just try www.thecubmag.com and see if you get a blog type of page on a blue & grey background, or a boring plain white web page with not a lot on it...thanking yoooooo.

Monday, 28 November 2011

Just on my way home from a bit of a trip south - a VMCC meeting followed by a flying visit to the Greystone Enterprises HQ in Kent for Cub Mag related discussions, and to purchase a few bits and pieces for a Cub that I acquired shares in some months back, called Yorkie. Also picked up the fuel and oil tanks for it which had been painted by a lad called Craig, and a very fine job he's done too - wait til you see the colour; all I'm saying for now is (for those of you in the UK) think Co-Op shops (or if you're not in the UK, maybe try Googling Co-Op shops).

The drive down to Kent took a bit longer than expected, and all those weeny country lanes that twisted and turned this way and that were lovely to drive but easy to get lost in. After a chat with the lads at Greystones and a good look around the stocks of Cub bits, it was time to find somewhere to eat, which was easier said than done. Nowhere seemed to serve food mid-afternoon, and the place that everyone said did serve food, well, it wasn't 'just at the end of the road'!

There'll be more about Greystones in The Cub Mag Issue 1, which you'll be able to get your paws on in April 2012, but in the mean time, I'd just like to thank Derek and Adrian for their hospitality and time.

Sunday, 20 November 2011

Laydeeez and gentlemenz, I do hereby announce The Plan. I had planned to announce The Plan over the weekend, but had a couple of car related problems to deal with, so I thought, well, everyone loves a Monday morning announcement, so I'll announce the announcement of The Plan here and now :

I'm planning to start a new magazine all about Triumph Tiger Cubs and Terriers.

There y'go, I've said it now. I've been keeping it under my hat for a few weeks, making enquiries, costing things out and contacting people, and I think it could be a go-er. It's not quite finalised yet, but you can probably expect -

*an A5 size publication - easy to fit in your pocket/Cub tool box

*loadsa pages in full colour - just had to add another page to the first issue to make room for more articles

*subscription only, quarterly publication

*road tests on different models of Cub

*restoration stories

*service / supplier features

*Cub quiz with Great Prizes.....hopefully....maybe....well, a prize of some sort anyway!

*nostalgia series

*profiles of owners and bikes

*off road section

*for sale & wanted section

*product / book reviews

*spotted Cubs

*readers stories of Cub adventures

*techy tips

*forthcoming events - which leads me to add that I'm also planning some sort of Cub Gathering for summer 2012...that bit remains Top Secret for just a while longer though...

One of the main supporters is that well known supplier of all things Cub, Greystone Enterprises, who will be offering subscribers to The Cub Mag a healthy 10% discount! The Cub Mag also has the support of Mike Estall, author of what all Cubbers refer to as the Cub Bible, and Steve Aikens, the owner of the very popular Cub forum, - both of whom will be contributing to the first issue which is due out in April 2012.

So, like any other club style publication, much of the content relies on YOU, the reader. While I'm able to interview owners and write stories myself, it would be nice to receive some submissions written by your own fair hand, on anything to do with Cubs or Terriers. It might be that you used to have one, it was your first bike - tell us about it, take us back to the time when you were learning to ride a motorcycle and how you came to own a Tiger Cub - or maybe you trial one nowadays? The one thing missing so far from the draft copy of the first issue, is anything muddy and offroady. There's a lot of pre65/twinshock trials around the country, could you perhaps just nip along with your camera for me on a crisp, autumn weekend and get some shots of Cubs doing what a lot of people say they do best?

I know a lot of people who say they can't write. Don't fret about that. Just jot down the basics; dates, names, locations and then the rest, well, it'll be easier to fill in the blanks. Something else I'd like to feature too, is Cubs and Terriers spotted at random when you're out and about - take a photo, send it in and we'll see if the owner reads The Cub Mag!

Hey, talking of readers and subscribers, you don't actually need to own a Cub to be able to subscribe, although we hope to convert as many non-owners as possible!

Well I reckon that's a good enough reason for GBC and the Blog having been a bit on the quiet side lately; as well as all this Planning of Plans, there's been the building of a new shed, doing the day job, running the local Classic and the Vintage clubs, and nipping down to Burton on Trent for VMCC meetings. Over winter, I shall be trying to put this magazine idea into motion - the next step is setting up the website - what do you reckon, website or blog? Then there's a Facebook page and Twitter....and I've got an interview with Greystone Enterprises lined up soon too...are there any questions I should be asking Adrian and Derek, apart from 'have you got the choccy biscuits at the ready'....?

Sunday, 13 November 2011

I think one knows when its time to build another shed. A good clue is when one can't actually move anything, including oneself, in the shed that exists. At the moment, Cubbie's Shed houses Cubbie, the Bulto, Skorpy, the 250cc MZ project, a pillar drill, one (too) small workbench, a nice wall unit full of 'stuff', several tool boxes/tool chests, two big wooden ramps for getting bikes in and out of the shed, compressor, flame thrower/gas bottle, plus a heap of general tools and farm equip, plus half a dozen Cub projects (the roof space alone is home to about 6 spare wheels) which can't be worked on as there is no room to get to them or do anything with them. The bench is temporarily home to a gigantic chop saw, bench grinder, box of trials Cub project bits, Terry's engine, battery chargers and so on. So yep, it's time to crack on and build the sectional concrete shed that's been piled up in the yard for a year or more. Work began yesterday with the removal of a few shrubs that need to be re-homed, and hopefully today, while Mrs BC and I catch and move sheep around, the Man from Muckle Flugga will be able to get the site marked out and work out the levels and other technical stuff; then start the real digging. If all goes to plan, it should end up as a 20x20ft box, on a 5" thick base, with a double door and a single door in the front, a window in the side, and I quite like the idea of roof windows or clear panels to let as much natural light in as possible. We'll have to make the trusses and roof it ourselves as it's only the walls that we have. The trusses, I'm told, will have to be beefy and sturdy to support such a large roof area, and of course, I'll want to use the roof space for storage. At least if the base can be laid before the frosts set in, then the rest of it can be done on those lovely sunny, snow-free, dry winter days that we *sometimes* have.View to the left of the site, and view to the right. Its just the small shrubs to move and a few of those bigger willow branches will have to 'pruned'.One down....

Just a quick update, all the shrubs have gone - 3 have been rehomed and the other 2 are promised to the local farmer, Mrs BC doesn't think he was serious about taking them but I'm sure he was.

We decided that pruning them would be the way to go, even though, according to some, the middle of November isn't quite the right time. It sure made it easier to dig them up, plus there was no way they'd fit in the back of the car without a haircut!The last piccy shows the first big of serious digging by the MFMF. He's gone all technical and has set out his level line and done measurements and everyt'ing.

And cos the spoil from the new shed base has got to go somewhere, it might as well go around the base of the original Cubbie Shed to stop the rubble wandering off, and to form a ramp at the front, which will be finished with something non-slip at some point.

Friday, 11 November 2011

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Gosh, I am living it up. That's the second year that I've been to the October Stafford motorcycle show. First, there was the possibility of getting a lift down with some friends of the Man from MuckleFlugga, who just happened to be heading that way, but then their plans changed, then there was a small chance of a lift down with Shorty, but his plans weren't confirmed, so in the end, it was a hunt on the internet for a cheap flight. The cheapest option was to stop off for lunch in Belfast, before getting back on another plane to East Midlands. Security is obviously tight in Belfast, and tourism is also obviously very important to them. Stepping off the plane and entering the airport, the first thing you come to is the tourist info desk, and the nice lady there gave out details of local buses, where to catch them, where they stopped, and she was empowered to sell tickets too. It seemed like a good idea to head towards the new Victoria shopping centre, where they've created a huge viewing dome on top, with views across the city in all directions.

With eyesight better than mine, (or wearing specs) Carrick Fergus power station could just be made out across the water, plus in the foreground sat the dry dock where the Titanic was built (according to the 'tour guide / security chap in the dome, "it was ok when it left Ireland"; I don't know what he was implying, to be sure), round to the right and up high on the hill was Storemount, and I didn't get a chance to see in the other directions because the built in movement of the platform was making one feel just a little bit strange.

Time to get some lunch. Disappointingly, lunch turned out to be a cold McDonalds, cos the other outlets were all too expensive. A short walk through the Cathedral area of the city led back to the right bus stop, and then I got told off at security. First of all, I had the 'wrong kind of plastic bag' for my liquids, so I had to re-bag them in the special bag she gave me, then I apparently tried to walk through the x-ray machine thingy before I was told to (good job it didn't go off), then my liquids were picked out for a random spot check, and then my netbook was picked out for another random spot check for explosives. Do I look dodgy or summat? Finally ended up with a fish and chip supper on the way back to my accommodation.

My bodyguards for the show were the MFMF and Pete. We arrived a little on the early side for the show, just before 10am, to enable Pete to get his Triumph Legend wheeled in and set up the 'for sale' sign. The sun was shining and the dark heavy clouds that were in the distance, stayed in the distance for much of the day. Sunday is usually the least busy day to go, and my snouts tell me that Saturday this year, was indeed, very packed. No sooner had we started to wander round, we bumped into Shorty fae Scotland, who did the right thing and handed over the chocolate bar he'd had melting in his pocket. Then it was time to meet up with Stu, a regular reader and commentor on the blog. Stu was hunting for a new jacket for his winter commute and I had a plan to buy some nice new winter gloves. Stu struck lucky first, and while he was busy trying a few jackets on, I stupidly browsed around the rails of waterproof armoured trousers. And then bought some. Well, they were cheaper than the pair I got at the Scottish bike show back in March, and I collared the sales lad and said if they're not waterproof I'm sending them back. Fair enough, he said, here's our address. So that sounds promising, I'll have to see if I can find a rainy day to try them out; shouldn't be too hard!

After a wander round the outdoor stalls of autojumble, looking at the piles of unidentifiable, rusty bits and pieces and many, many displays of shiny new tools; mmmm, spanners, hammers, socket sets, and best of all some pink tyres (I do have photographic proof) and cable ties about 3ft long and at least an inch wide, we made our way to the indoor halls. Full of club stands, more clothing and goodies you didn't know you needed, we had an interesting browse around. The Triumph Owners MCC were a friendly bunch, advising me on a modern colour match for Terry's Amaranth Red and giving me a free pen. We had a good chat about the new style Nacelle magazine and the changes in the Club over recent years.

They were up on the balcony, and downstairs there was a stand with a beautiful collection of vintage and veteran machines, but they were all priced at silly money. That selection alone must have totted up to about a hundred grand (£100,000).

They were beautiful, some were from foreign shores, French I think, many were British, and I wouldn't mind having any of them to ride, but d'you know which bike really grabbed my attention? The...........wait for it........the RACING TERRIER.

(I'm thinking this is the racing carb from the Terror...)

Stu had spotted it just outside the entrance to the hall and we went to have a closer look. With a racing hump, low slung handlebars with the levers nearly drooping on the front mudguard and modified 'rear sets', the little 150cc bike certainly looked the part. Ah, but it wasn't 150cc any more. The story that accompanied the 1953 bike, nicknamed the Terror, stated that it had been increased to 230cc, and raced right from day one, up until the early 1960s. I could have bought it, it was for sale, I nearly bought it - should I have bought it?

Unfortunately I missed the editor of Classic Dirt Bike, a certain Mr Britton, riding his Bultaco over a car, but I did catch a few words with him in the dirt bike hall, where his recently restored Bulto was on show, alongside 'Project CanAm' which he had finished just in time for the show. I did manage to snap this sneaky little shot of him o te Dirt Bike Arena though. There were a host of other machines that caught my eye, all trials Cubs plus another couple of Bultacos. Most were a bit too shiny for my own personal choice, but each to their own.

Just a couple of other pics that I thought were interesting - an MZ 150cc police bike...

And a Triumph Boss...

So that was at the end of a very long day, and it was soon time to head back to the accommodation for a bite to eat and to recover from nearly buying another Terrier!

Pics coming in a bit, but I'm doing this from my netbook, the pics are on my Blackberry and my main computer is pretending to be dead. At least, I hope it's just pretending!

And whilst on my travels, I spotted this rather handy Haynes book...covers all models too...

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think I've put anything about the Cairn O Mount on here yet. If I have and I'm just going over it all again, then please do forgive me, but I think you'll like the pics. It's organised by the Grampian Classic club, and held in the first half of May, which is not usually too snowy a month, but a lot of the guys who've been attending for many a year reminisce about the time that the Cairn, which is basically a pass at nearly 1500ft high, through the Grampian mountains, was covered in snow. This year, we didn't suffer that particular weather condition, but instead, it absolutely chucked it down with rain on the night before the Cairn, as the event is affectionately known. Luckily, as Recovery Vehicle Driver, I had the use of a borrowed Big Red Truck, and not even a raging river that will stop that. On a thoroughly miserable Sunday morning, some hardy types turned up at the Potarch Hotel just outside of Banchory, and it was still raining as they parked up and signed in. Bacon rolls and cuppas were consumed, and it was still raining.

As they set off following their little route maps, it was still raining, and as we got further and further along the road behind the riders, more and more fields were filling up with water. One small village that used to have a football pitch had, instead, an outdoor swimming pool. Turning off the main road, my assistant and I were soon confronted with a swathe of muddy water that stretched across the fields to either side of the road, with only the top half of the fence posts showing. Then we spotted some bikes on the far side, all of whom had obviously made it through safely, and a car in the middle of the flood, with Maurice, the Cairn organiser for 2011, wading through it. Dropping the bike trailer on dry land, we backed up to his car and slung a rope out to Maurice and pulled him back out. In terms of rescuing people, it wasn't quite what the recovery vehicle was for, but at least we were able to help, although his car had swallowed too much water and was later declared a write off by his insurers.The rest of the route to lunch would have been lovely had it not been for the variations between more rain and thick fog.

After lunch we were joined by a bike breakdown, but other than that and more rain, there's not much more to report. Such a shame that so much effort goes into organising these events and not a thing can be done about the weather. Such is life!